Unloading the dishwasher, doing laundry, dusting, vacuuming, feeding the pets, making the bed — the list goes on and on. All of these items are daily tasks at my home that my husband and I usually do, but now our kids are at ages when they can start helping.
“But what is the best way to get kids involved with ‘chores’?”
“Should they be rewarded for helping around the house?”
“Is it easier for me to just do the household chores?”
So many questions surround the semi-simple tasks. Cohen is almost five years old and Collyns is turning two years old in April. Now is the time to start giving them a little responsibility…or so we thought!
The Push-and-Pull of Completing Chores
We started simple. We asked Cohen to feed the dog every day and we would give him a quarter for his piggy bank every week. This lasted less than a month. Cohen kept forgetting, and I was tired of reminding him every day when I could just do it myself.
Saturday is cleaning day and Sunday is laundry day. We turn on some music and get started on the room that needs the most attention whether it’s the living room, bathrooms or the basement. However, the kids mostly dance, and there’s little picking up going on. Collyns tries to help on a daily basis. She loves helping me unload the dishwasher. Sometimes she likes to help a little too much. For example, when I’m washing the dishes in the sink, preparing to put them in the dishwasher, she comes over and takes the dirty dishes out and hands them to me. She doesn’t quite get when they are clean versus dirty, but at least she is willing to help.
Cohen, however, is not as willing. Needless to say, it’s like pulling teeth to get him to help! I think it’s because he is so good at school, listens to his teachers all day long that he doesn’t want to come home and help. We have tried a chart with daily chores. We have tried rewards. Bottom line is that there has to be a constant reminder for him to help clean up. Simply putting his toys away is a struggle. He doesn’t understand why he has to help more as compared to his sister when she’s the one making the messes.
My Children’s Chore Responsibilities
Cohen’s Chores:
- Clean room
- Put dirty clothes in hamper (especially on laundry day)
- Feed the dog
- Clean up living room
- Put clean clothes in drawers
- Help sort laundry (matching socks)
Collyns’ Chores:
- Help unload dishes
- Help with laundry
- Clean up living room
- Put clean clothes in drawers
Some Advice on Chores and Children
I believe kids should help around the house. I don’t believe you have to reward them to do so – the option is up to you. As long as you are continuously reminding them the chores will get done, it just may take some extra time to do it. My advice is…
- Don’t designate chores if you are in a hurry.
- Don’t expect it to be perfect.
- Give daily reminders of the chore at hand.
- Be prepared to help and/or do the chore.
- Have a set schedule.
My kids already know what cleaning needs doing on the weekend. Including them on the smallest of chores will make them feel better about having to do it. I know it’s a work in progress, but having my kids take some responsibility is worth the extra effort.
Mallory Connelly
Babies & Toddlers
In addition to the time I devote to being a mom, I also work full-time outside the home, which means my day is hardly ever as simple as nine to five. With an all-too-established schedule, as soon as I walk through the door, my day doesn’t end, but rather just begins. It’s a balancing act, especially with two children, but being a mom is one full-time job that I never want to quit!
